Books I Love: Lessons from Madame Chic

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I recently finished Lessons from Madame Chic: 20 Stylish Secrets I Learned While Living in Paris by Jennifer L. Scott and I absolutely loved it. 


Each chapter is a look inside the chic life lessons the author learned while living in Paris. I learned so much from this book and I am implementing many of the ideas in my life.


The first chapter "Snacking is so Not Chic" felt like it was written specifically for me. I'm a girl who likes her snacks. At work I never missed my mid-morning granola bar or my 3pm chocolate time. When I got home I usually had a snack while making dinner. Of course after dinner comes dessert, and then a late night snack before bed. In the book the author shares that many people she met in France did not snack, but instead had very satisfying meals. (She did mention that an afternoon snack is common.) This idea was eye opening for me. I had been eating over 600 calories a day in snacks. My snack choices where usually sweets so, there is very little nutritional value in them - which quickly left me hungry again. Since I've finished the book I've cut out most of my snacks and instead I am focusing on eating healthy and filling meals. I feel much better since I'm not constantly bouncing between a sugar high and low.


The second chic lessons I am incorporating in my life is from chapter eight "Look Presentable Always." I've never been the type of person to come home and immediately put on my pajamas but adopting this idea has helped me get dressed in the morning. Instead of thinking "I'm just going to my parents house it's no big deal to wear this T-shirt from 5th grade with my grubby jeans" because of course when wear something awful like that it's the time my mom asks me to run to the grocery store for her and then I'm embarrassed because of my sloppy clothes. By looking presentable always I feel so much better about myself (which has amazing effects on my daily outlook of life.) And I’m always ready for impromptu grocery store runs or any other adventure life throws my way.


The most influential lesson of all is the ten-item wardrobe. This chapter is about exactly what it sounds like, limiting your wardrobe to ten items. As I've talked about before, one of my goals for 2013 is to love every item in my wardrobe. I think the idea of pairing down my wardrobe (not only ten items but definitely a good pairing down) would greatly help with my goal of loving every single piece. Plus, by limiting the amount of clothing in my closet it should help me look presentable always because I will only have pieces I love to choose from.


So that's just a few of the ways Lessons from Madame Chic: 20 Stylish Secrets I Learned While Living in Paris by Jennifer L. Scott is inspiring me right now. Have you read any inspiring books lately?